Store-service apparatus.



G. P. HIDDEN.

STORE SERVICE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAR.6, 1913.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

4 SHBETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR.

WITNESSES:

gwxfm THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON. D. C.

C. P. HIDDEN.

STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED mums, 1913.

1,122,597. Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

4 SHEETSSHEBT 2.

n nzvzsszs; INVENTOR.

, Q4 r/Qv QMXQMZZ/ 'HE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTWLITHOH WASHINGTON. D. C

Patented D80. 29, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET a.

11V VEN TOR.

U. P. HIDDEN.

STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION nun MAILG, 1913 THE NORRIS PETERS cu, PHOTOJJTHO WASHINGTON. D. C.

I l l I I T I I I I I I RI I I I I I I I I 1 I I I I I WITNESSES:

05%; x%/ ZL.

C. P. HIDDEN.

STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED mums, 1913.

1 ,122,5 9?, Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

4 SHBETSSHEET 4.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT EEioE.

CHARLES P. HIDDEN, OF WINCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAMSON M COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

STORE-SERVICE APPARATUS.

Application filed March 6, 1913.

T 0 (Illa-710m it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES P. HIDDEN, of Winchester, in the county of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Store-Service Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

.This'" invention relates to store service apparatus and more particularly concerns certain improvements in the construction of carriers adapted for travel on line wires or tracks; to improved means for attaching receptacles to such or like carriers; and to other elements associated and co-acting with said carriers and receptacles.

My invention is especially adapted to the so-called basket carrier systems and has for one of its objects the provision of an exceedingly simple but efl'ectvie mechanism for at times locking together a carrier and the receptacle to be supported thereby, while at other times the receptacle and a portion of the elevating apparatus used in connection therewith are locked together by this same mechanism.

Another object of my invention is to dis pose substantially all movable parts of this mechanism in a suitable frame or support connected to the receptacle, rather than, as has been commonly done heretofore, to connect such parts permanently to the carrier proper whereby, when the locking mechanism becomes out of order, it has frequently been found necessary to remove the carrier from its track and often to ship said carrier back to the factory for repairs. By thus placing the parts of the apparatus, at all subject to breakage or wear, in or upon the receptacle rather than upon the carriage this necessity for removing the carriage from its track is avoided and a spare receptacle may be substituted for the impaired one most readily. y

Owing to the fact that the number of moving parts and the machine work thereupon is reduced to a minimum the liability of the apparatus to become out of order is rendered almost negligible.

These and other obiects of my invention will be hereinafter referred to and the novel elements and combinations whereby they may be attained will be more particularly set forth in the claims appended hereto.

I am aware, however, that various changes and modifications may be made in the con- -Specificati0n of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914:.

Serial No. 752,273.

struction given by way of exemplification without departing from the spirit of my invention and I, hence, desire to be limited only by the scope of said claims.

Referring to the drawings which form a part hereof and in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, I have shown a preferred construction.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a basket carrier mounted upon its conveying track and provided with means for propelling said carrier along said track. Fig. 2 is a vertical median longitudinal section ofthe locking mechanism which serves to connect the receptacle to the car or carrier proper; the lock-framework or casing being shown at substantially the entrance to its socket in the carrier. Fig. 3 is a similar section showing the locking parts operatively disposed. Fig. 4- is a view similar to Fig. 8 but with the elevator stirrup removed. Fig. 5 is a transverse section of said locking mechanism; the sect-ion being taken on line VV of Fig. 4-. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the lock casing showing the manner of attaching the receptacle bails thereto. Fig. 7 is a detail, shown in perspective, of the lower portion of the elevating stirrup above referred to.

The track 1 may be of any suitable description but is preferably simply a taut wire secured at its respective extremities, as shown at 2, to a bracket 3 which mav be mounted upon the lower extremity of a hanger rod 4.

In the present instance, the track wire 1 is supplemented by a second or safety wire 5 in a well known manner; but the wheels 6 of the car or carriage 7 ride upon the track 1. andin the present instance, are prevented from becoming disengaged therefrom by wearing blocks or pieces 8 which are set into the interior of the carriage frame, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. These blocks may be seated in suitable re-' cesses and pins 9 may be driven therethrough for retaining them fixedly in position. Said blocks may be of fiber or other suitable material and their upper surfaces are adapted for engagement, when necessary to prevent the separation of the wheels from the track 1, with the under surface of the wire 5.

The carrier or carriage frame is of exceedingly simple construction and is almost devoid of mechanism. It is preferably cast of relatively light material and the necessary machine work thereon is practically limited to the drilling of the holes 10 for the reception of the wheel axles and to the drilling of holes for the receptionv of certain pins 11 hereinafter referred to, with the possible exception of holes for the reception of the pins 9.

In the lower portion thereof is cast a pocket 12, the mouth of which is preferably flared as at 13 to facilitate the entrance thereinto of the lock casing 14; the upper edges of this casing being also preferably rounded as at 15, to the same end.

The pins 11, previously referred to, are preferably four in number, as indicated in Fig. 5, and may, for security, have their outer extremities reduced in diameter, and headed, or riveted, upon the outer surface of the" car frame as at 16. These pins are located opposite each other in pairs, and are disposed relatively near the belled mouth of the pocket 12. y y y The frame or casing 14 is slotted upon the lateral sides thereof as at 17 for the reception of these pins, four slots in all being provided, and said slots being spaced apart in correspondence with the spacing of the pins. The upper or outer ends of these slots are preferably flared as at 18 to facilitate the entrance of the pins thereinto.

Mounted upon pins or small shafts 19 within the casing 14, are two rather peculiarly shaped levers, broadly designated 20. For convenience in machining the apparatus, the pins 19' are spaced apart the same distance as are the pairs of pins 11 and, if desired, theresp'ective pins may all have the same diameter so that, the same size drill or drills may be used.

The levers 20 are normally disposed in the 1 positions in which they are shown inFig. 2

through the instrumentality of a spring 21, the respective extremities of which may be hooked into small apertures 22 in lugs 23 which extend laterally from the levers 20 adjacent the pivotal axes of said levers. In other words, the spring 21 will normally bring and hold the apertures '22 and the axes of the pins 19 into alinement and. when in such position, the upper and pointed extremities of these levers will be so disposed that the surfaces 24 thereof will be in position to be engaged by the pins 11 as the casing 14 is moved up into the socket or pocket 12, by the elevating apparatus herein'after referred to.

The pins 11, under such circumstances, will slidingly engage the respective surfaces'24 and will swing the upper ends of the levers 20 apart; said ends approaching the lateral walls of the casing 14 and ultimately emerging through apertures 25 in said walls. This operation causes the spring 21 to be disposed upwardly out of the line connecting the centers of the pins 19 and spring 21 is also slightly elongated. Since the variation in the length of said spring is quite limited, it may be composed of fairly heavy wire so as to be relatively stiff, where by to insure proper emplacement of the levers 20 when out of engagement with the pins 11. Assuming now that the casing 14 has been moved upinto the pocket 12 until the several pins 11 have just cleared the respective nibs 26 upon the sides of the levers 20, the spring 21 will, in such case, cause said levers to return, in part at least, toward their former positions. They cannot completely return, however, since at such time said pins 11 will be brought into engagement with the corresponding walls 27 of the levers 2O whereupon when the frame 14, and the receptacle attached thereto, are lowered, the pins 11 will seat themselves in the arcuate recesses 28 upon the respective sides of the levers 20. The reason for providing the pins 11 in pairs is now, of course, apparent and sufficient space must be provided between their opposed extremities to permit of the free admission therebetween of the web 29 of each lever 20.

When the elevating apparatus raises the casing 14 a second time, the surfaces or walls 27 will be slid upwardly, past the pins 11, until the levers 20 are no longer restrained by said pins'and under the action of their common spring 21, are snapped back into their normal positions.

'Whenthe frame 14 is thereafter lowered,- the pins 11 engage the sloping outer walls 30 of the levers 20 and asthe frame 14 con tinues to descend, said pins force said levers inwardly toward each other until the pins 11 are able to clear the upper pointed extremities of the said levers, whereu on the latter are moved back into the pos tions in which they are shown in Fig. 2, by their spring 21. It is evident, of course, that when the upperarms of the levers 20 are thus swung inwardly toward ea ch other, the spring 21 will be depressed with respect to the line connecting the centers of the pins 19' and that it also will be again slightly elongated or placed under increased tension.

It will now be well to consider the elevating apparatus by means of which the locking mechanism is caused to function in the manner above described.

In the bifurcated forward lower extremitv of the b acket 3 is a transverse shaft or pin 31 which proiects through said bracket and carries upon its outer extremities a lever 32. This lever is preferably given the form of a yoke; the connecting portion of the yoke, shown in dotted lines at 33 in Fig. 1, being to the rear of said pin 31. Ears 34 project rearwardly beyond this connecting 7..

portion upon either side of the bracket 3 and have journaled therein, as at 35, suitable pulleys 36, over which ride the elevating cords 37, of which there is one upon either side of the bracket 3; said cords being connected together by a weighted yoke 38, in a known manner. The forward extremity of each arm of the lever 32 similarly carries a pulley 39 around which the corresponding cord 37 is passed; the extremities of the lever adjacent these pulleys being fashioned to retain said cords in position thereupon.

The weighted yoke 38 has connected thereto the usual operating cord 40 and the outer or forward extremities of the lighter cords 37 are connected to and sustain a stirrup 41, which is adapted for engagement, with the casing 14 and which also has provisions for engaging a certain safety element of the locking mechanism which has not yet been discussed.

The lever 32 is so proportioned that its forwardly directed arms, which directly sustain the stirrup 41, are longer than the rearwardly directed arms or yoked portion which sustain the weight 38. In other words, while the said weight normally holds the upper extremities of the stirrup in engagement with the forward arms of the lever 32, these forward arms together with the stirrup have sufficient weight to overbalance the yoked portion of the lever together with the weight 38 and cord 40 dependent therefrom. The upper side of the yoke 33 is hence moved into engagement with a downwardly projecting lug 42, or the like, of the frame 3; this lug serving as a stop to definitely position the stirrup with respect to the track.

The bottom portion of the stirrup is shown in perspective in Fig- 7 and preferably comprises a plate like part 42 in which are apertures 43 and upstanding columns or posts 44. These posts preferably have their edges rounded to facilitate their entrance into recesses 45 in the side walls of the socket or pocket 12. As best shown in Fig. 5, this lock-frame 14 is hence somewhat cruciform in cross section and the pocket 12 which receives said frame is correspondingly configured.

Asthe posts 44 of the stirrup are entered or socketed into the side recesses 45 they respectively engage the two lower eXtremi ties 46 of the yoke-shaped member or safetylock, broadly designated 47, and shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5. This member consists of the two parts 46, previously referred to, which are preferably substantially cylindrical in contour. and a horizontal portion 48, which unites the upper extremities of these parts. said portion preferably being stifiened by a web or rib 49. Laterally projecting upon either side of this horizontal por-v tion 48 lugs 50, the under surfaces of which, at their extremities, are shaped to form \Llike teeth 51.

The webs 29 of the levers 20 are continued upwardly above the lower portion of the respective surfaces 24, and these extended portions of the web are indented as at 52 for the reception of the teeth 51 when the latter are lowered into engagement therewith.

trlravity normally gives the safety yoke 47 a bias for its lower position, but in order to still more certainly insure such disposition of this part when it is not upheld by the posts or projections 44 of the stirrup, I provide a relatively light spring 53 upon eitherside of the safety yoke, there being, hence, two of these springs, each spring being received into a small pit or recess 54, which extends downwardly from the upper surface of the member 47 into each cylindrical part 46. A. teat 55 may project downwardly from the under surface of the upper portion of the casing 14, opposite each of these recesses 54, whereby to center the free ends of the springs 53. l/Vhen the stirrup posts 44 are fully entered into tae recesses 45 in the walls of the casing 14 and within which recesses also ride the cylindrical parts 46 of the safety yoke 47, the latter will be in its uppermost position with respect to said casing 14. The upward movement of this member 47 by the posts 44 toward said position, of course, frees the levers 20 from their engagement with the teeth 51 of said member which teeth normally seat themselves in the indentations 52 when the member 47 is not so elevated.

The levers 20 in addition to being provided with their centering spring 21 are weighted as at 56, so that their upper ends always have a bias for movement toward each other, aside from the action of spring 21 and the pins 11. Said levers may also, if desired, be hollowed or cored out at 57, to the same end. By reason of this, should the spring 21 become inoperative for any reason, as by rupture thereof, the upper arms of the lever 20 will of themselves swing inwardly as soon as the pins 11 have been removed from engagement therewith, so that the pointed upper extremity of each of said levers will be moved out of the possibility of engagement with the corresponding pins thereafter.

Attention is now directed to the lower ends of the levers 20 where it will be observed that web portions 58, of substantially the same thickness as the web parts 29. projeet downwardly from the weighted or thickened body portions of each of said levers, and carry at their lower extremities laterally projecting lugs 59 which. in effect, constitute hooks. These hook-like portions of the levers 20 enter the apertures 43 in the stirrup plate or base 42, above referred to.

To facilitate the entrance of these portions of the levers 20 into said recesses 43 when the stirrup is being operatively connected to the receptacle supporting or looking frame 14, when the latter is disconnected from the car, I provide sloping surfaces 60 upon either side of each aperture 43 and leading down thereinto, these surfaces'being adapted for sliding engagement with the.

sloping outer under-surface 61 of each of the said levers 20. Hence, if it be assumed that the stirrup posts 44 have been partly entered into the recesses 45 and that the base 42 of said stirrup is being moved up substantially into engagement with the under-surface of the casing 14, the lower hooked ends of the levers 20 will be first forced inwardly toward each other and will thereafter be snapped apart, through the instrumentality of the spring 21., so that the lugs 59 thereof will be swung in beneath the cars 62 which project inwardly from the body of the base 42 into its recesses or apertures 43 and which ears have the upper surfaces thereof sloped to constitute the surfaces 60, above referred to. At such time the stirrup and the receptacle or lock frame will be locked together at four points, to wit, below each of the ears 62.

As the stirrup is elevated until the upper extremity of the casing 14 enters the socket 12, in the manner above described, by reason of the engagement of thepins 11 with the levers 20, the upper extremities of the latter will be swung apart or outwardly and thereby the hooked lower ends of said levers will be correspondingly swung inwardly or toward each other. As they so move, the lugs 59 will momentarily pass the portions of the apertures 43 through which they might be withdrawn but will immediately swing over beyond said portions until the inner corner of each of said lugs passes beneath the corresponding auxiliary ear 63, whereby it again becomes impossible to separate the stirrup from the casing 14 as long as the levers 20 are so disposed. When thereafter said levers are permitted to move, under the combined action of the spring 21 and weights 57, into hooking or locking engagement with the pins 11, the respective lugs 59 will have been moved to their intermediate positions where they will just clear both the lugs 62 and 63. In otherwords, when the pivoted hooking parts or levers 20 are so disposed by reason of their engagement with the pins 11 that they lock the casing 14 to the car, they will at such time, release the stirrup from the lock incasing frame. The stirrup 41 may then be freely dropped, and practically only at such time, because, if when the lugs 59 are passing from lugs 62 toward lugs 63 the stirrup should inadvertently or purposely be caused locking engagement with the stirrup plate.

Furthermore, while this action is taking place, by reason of the considerable upward projection of the posts 44 into the casing 14, practically no canting of said casing with respect to the stirrup 41, such as would prevent this re-locking action, can occur.

As the stirrup 41 descends, when released, the withdrawal of its posts 44 from the recesses 45 permits the descent of the safety yoke 47 until the teeth 51 of the latter enter the notches or indentations 52 and thereby securely lock the levers 20 against inadvertent displacement, no matter whether the receptacle may be roughly shaken, as may happen in transit, or from other cause; the continued hooked engagement of the levers 20 with the pins 11 hence being assured when such engagement has once been effected. Furthermore,.it will be observed that this hooking or locking engagement is at four points, 2'. e., with each of the pins 11, and that by reason of the guiding action which the walls of the pocket 12 exert upon the casing 14, even if. but one pin should be effective, and the 3 others have been removed, the secure attachment of the receptacle to its carrier would be practically assured. Bearing this in mind, it becomes evident that but a single lever 20may, in

certain cases, be used; I prefer, however, to'

provide the said lever in duplicate for several reasons; one of the most important of which is that balanced action in every case is obtained, which insures a more perfect operation of the device as a whole. the provision of the levers 20 in duplicate, however, it should be noted that, in so far as the locking parts are concerned, but three movable elements are provided, aside from the springs 21 and 53. The springs 53 may obviously in certain cases be omitted, and while the provision of the spring 21 is decidedly advantageous, it is possible to so Even with i proportion the levers 20 as to dispense there-.

14 and are provided with suitable clamps 641, or the like, for connecting the bails 65, which support receptacle 66, to the respective outer extremities of these arms.

The carriage casing is exceedingly simple in construction and is preferablyprovided at the respective extremities thereof with an inwardly bent lip 67, which provides means adapted to cooperate with a latch 68; thepurpose of which is to retain the carriage at the station until purposely propelled therefrom This' latch is materially different in construction from any which have heretofore been made with which the applicant is acquainted, and consists of a lever 69 the outer or forward extremity of which is hooked or notched to form the latch 68 just mentioned, said lever preferably also being pivotally mounted upon the shaft 31 to which the lever 32, previously referred to, is pivoted. This double utilization of the shaft 31 effects a further reduction in the cost of manufacture.

The frame 3 is bifurcated at the lower forward extremity thereof as indicated in Fig. 1 for the reception of said lever 69 and the rear extremity of this lever carries a pulley 70 around which passes the propelling cord 71; the extremity of the lever being so shaped as to aid in retaining said cord upon the pulley 70, in a known manner. The cord 71 carries the usual handle 71 and extends forward over the pulley 70, around a second and preferably stationary pulley 72, which may be mounted in a suitable bracket or casing 73, disposed between and secured to the wires 1 and 5. The cord 71 is returned toward the hanger after pass ing downwardly around the pulley 72 and has its rear extremity connected to a follower or pusher 7 3. The latter is mounted for slidable movement along and upon the wire 5 and is preferably provided witha wire loop 74, or the like, which may pass up wardly around the wire 1 for the purpose of steadying the follower and maintaining it always in substantially the same vertical plane. The upper portion of the cord 71 may pass through this wire loop '74: and hence does not interfere with the propulsion of the carirage by the follower 73, when an operating tension is imposed upon said cord. Depending from the lever 69 are two lugs 75 and 76 which are drilled for the reception of a rod 77. Upon this rod is disposed a collar 78, against which presses a spring 79 which normally urges rod 77 outwardly toward latch 68. The forward or outer extremity of said rod carries a cup-shaped head 80, the concave surface of which substantially conforms to the rounded surface of a boss 81, one of which is disposed at each of the lower corners of the carriage; each boss 81 being preferably directly below the corresponding lip 67 above referred to. The

head and its stem or rod 77 are movable longitudinally with respect to the lever 69, so that the boss 81, when it enters the cupped head 80,,drives the stem 7 '7 rearwardly and thereby compresses the spring 79. If desired, an auxiliary spring 82 may be provided to the rear of the lug 75 for the purpose of reducing noise. l i

The operation of the device as a whole is as follows :Assuming that the carrier with 1ts suspended receptacle is being propelled toward the station shownin Fig. l, the carrier first strikes the follower 73, which is in substantially its outermost position, assuming that said follower has been used to propel the carriage previously on its outward Journey. This movement of the follower causes the cord 71 to pass around the pulley '72, whereby to elevate the handle 71, and said movement of the cord imparts a slight upward tendency to the short or rearwardly directed arm of the latch 69, owing to the angular disposition of the latter with respect to the upper side of the cord 71. This effort is not great, but attention is called to it merely to show how each part of the mechanism is designed to co-act with other parts toward a determined end. This upward and forward tendency of the short arm of .the lever 69 aids gravity in retaining or placing the latching portion of said arm in its latching position. The upward movement of the latch 68 is limited in any suitable manner, as by means of a stop pin 84:, which may be driven through the frame 3 for engagement with the lever 69. The approaching carriage elevates the latch 68 and immediately thereafter the boss 81 impinges against the cupped head 80 which recedes sufliciently to take up the momentum of the carrier and its receptacle; while at the same time centering or locating the latch in its locking position. This does away with necessity for depending upon such a device as a spring for moving the latch into its latching position, although the latter may also be used, if desired. Since the receptacle is at such time connected to the carrier, the cord 40 should next be pulled downwardly, which since the upper extremity of the stirrup ll is already in engagement with the outer end of the lever 32, will elevate said stirrup and guidedly move its posts 14; up into the recesses provided therefor in the lock frame. The ascending posts 1 1 lift the safety yoke and thereby free the levers 20 so that thereafter when the stirrup base 42 has operatively engaged the casing 1 1, said casing will be lifted with respect to the carrier, enabling the levers 20 to free themselves from the pins 11 of the carrier with which they had until then been in engagement. The spring 21 will also function to swing said levers clear of engagement with said pins, in the manner above described, and in so doing will automatically lock together the casing 14 and the stirrup base, through the instrumentality of the lugs 59. The cord 40 is then, preferably, gradually released and the stirrup descends, together with the receptacle and its locking frame, and the pins 11 will force the upper ends of the levers 20 inwardly toward each other until said pins clear the pointed extremities of said levers, but such action will not affect the locking relationship between the'casing 14 and the stirrup base, since the lugs 59 will be simply swung somewhat farther apart around the ar cuately surfaced ears 62. The receptacle may thus be lowered, while the same mechanism and indeed the same members thereof which had previously served to lock said receptacleto the carrier, hence, now serve to lock the receptacle to the stirrup.

When it is desired to reiilevate the receptacle and again lock it to its carriage, cord 40 is again pulled downwardly and the stirrup moves upwardly, together with the receptacle, which is at such time attached thereto by the lugs 59. lVhen the upper extremities of the stirrup encounter the outer ends of the lever 32, the said outer ends will be elevated and the casing 14 thereafter moves guidedly up into the socket 12. The pins 11 are thus again entered into the slots 17 and encounter the surfaces 24 of the levers 20, said surfaces sliding upwardly and laterally outwardly with respect to said pins until the latter pass the points or nibs 26. Immediately thereafter the spring 21 swings the upper arms of the levers inwardly and the receptacle is again hooked to the car. At such time, the lugs 59 are so disposed that they may clear the ears which they at other times normally engage, so that the stirrup may be lowered out of engagement with the frame 14 and the withdrawal of the posts 44 from the frame permits the springs 53 to depress the locking yoke 47, with respect to the car, until its teeth 51 enter the indentations 52, thereby locking the hooking members 20 against rotary movement. The cord 40 having been released, the weight of the outer arms of the lever 32, together with the stirrup, causes the latter to be lowered sufliciently to permit of lateral movement of the lock-frame 14 thereover when it is projected along the track in the manner now to be described. The handle 71 is now grasped by the operator and pulled downwardly, which causes the follower 73 to press against the rear end of the car and this first moves the lip 67 firmly into engagement with the latch 68, if it be not already in such engagement. The downward pull of the cord 71 tends to rock the lever 69, but this rocking action is in some measure resisted by the friction between the engaged surfaces of the lip 67 and the latch-68. As a result, a material tension will be'initially imposed upon the cord 71 before the car becomes unlatched by the rotation of the lever 69, which latter action will occur, however, when suflicient additional tension has been imposed upon cord 71. Immediately upon the elevation of the latch, the car is started upon its journey and the continued pull downward upon the cord 71 at its handle imparts the desired momentum to the carrier and its attached receptacle. ver upon the shaft to which the lever 32 is pivoted not only simplifies the construction but renders it more compact.

The disposition of practically all movable locking elements within a casing directly connected to the receptacle is highly advantageous,since should any working part become disarranged or broken, it will, in such case, be unnecessary to detach the carrier from its way; the preferred procedure being merely to detach the bails from the frame 14 and ship the latter, if desired, back to the factory for repairs; or a new receptacle with its attached locking mechanism may be substituted for the old one and may be immediately snapped into engagement with the stirrup 41 preparatory to being elevated into locking engagement with the CZII'IIGI;

I particularly desire to point out that by virtue of my preferred construction but very little machine work is required. For example, a gang-drill comprising 2 drills of s1ze properly corresponding to the pins 19 and the reduced portions of the pins 11 may be used to drill the holes in the frame 14 at one operation, and similarly, the correspondingholes forthe pins 11 in the carrier frame in a second operation; while, if desired, the levers 20 may be mounted in a suitable jig and the holes for the reception of the pins 19 may be drilled by these same drills in a single operation upon these parts. The springs 53 are inserted into recesses 54 and the yoke 47, which is preferably a simple well made casting, is pushed up into place in the frame 14. Thereafter the levers 20, which may be drop-forgings or malleable iron castings, are connected together bytheir spring 21 and are inserted into the frame 14; the pins 19 being driven into place to retain these levers in position; said levers thereafter preventing any excessive downward displacement of the safety yoke 47. The stirrup 41 may also be a plain casting, sufficient clearance being allowed between the ears 62 and 63 to permit of the withdrawal of the lugs 59 therebetween when the levers are properly located for such purpose by the pins 11.

The. simplicity of this locking mechanism will be at once apparent, and it is also evident that for most purposes the provision The mounting of the latch le-' of auxiliary and safety locks, such as have commonly been provided u on devices of this character, will nomally not be needed in view of the positive lock action afforded by the oppositely booking or locking elements. Should by any chance, the spring 21 break, for example, the upper arms of the levers 20 will. simply swing inwardly, securing and locking the stirrup to the re ceptacle; th said levers being at such time so disposed that they cannot be operatively engaged by the pins 11 which will merely ride idly in the slots 17, should it then be attempted to raise and lock the receptacle to its carrier. In other words, should the operative parts become disarranged or out of order the locking mechanism is so constructed that automatically it will substantially obviate any possibility of accident.

The novel latch construction employed insures a proper action of the latch under practically all conditions encountered in practice, and further improves the pro]ect-- ing action of the carrier propelling parts, in the manner indicated. Even in so far as the construction of these latter elements are concerned, the number of machine tool operations is reduced practically to a mini mum, and in general the castings preferably used will at the most require relatively simple core work; Finally, 1 direct attention to the compactness resulting from the tele scopic arrangement of the elements afforded by the utilization of the soc ret like part or frame 1%, which receives the projections or posts i l of the elevating member or stirrup, as the stud element of a somewhat similar projection and socket connection between the frame 14 and the socketed carrier. In other words, the frame 14- acts as a socket for the stirrup posts and in turn is socketed into the carrier when in engagement therewith.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. In store service apparatus, the combination of a carrier, a track therefor, a receptacle adapted to be supported by said carrier, and means for automaticall I locking said receptacle to said carrier when the former is raised substantially into engagement with the latter and for automatically disconnecting said parts when said receptacle is again ioved in a predetermined manner with respect to said carrier, said means comprising a member movably connected to one of said parts, a second member carried by the other of said parts and adapted for iooked engagement with said movably connected member, a portion of said movable member being moved by said second member through a determined path with respect to said second member when being driven into said hooked engagement therewith, one of said members being movable through a path distinctly dilferent from the first mentioned path when said receptacle is thereafter again moved in said predetermined manner, and means for positively locking said members a ainst inadvertent movement with respect to each other when in said locked en agement.

2. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a carrier, a track therefor, a rceptacle adapted to be supported by said carrier, and means for automatically looking said receptacle to said carrier when the former is raised substantially into engagement 'With the latter and for automatically disconnecting said parts when said receptacle is again moved in a predetermined manner with respect to said carrier, said means comprising a member pivotally connected to one of said parts, a second member carried by the other of said parts adapted for hooked engagement with an arm of said pivoted member, said arm being moved by said second member through a determined path when being moved into said hooked engagement and being moved through a distinctly different path when said receptacle is thereafter moved in said predetermined manner, and means for positively locking said members against inadvertent movement with respect to each other when in said hooked engagement.

3. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a carrier, a track therefor, a receptacle adapted to be supported by said carrier, and means for automatically locking said receptacle to said carrier when the former is raised substantially into engage- :ient with the latter and for automatically disconnecting said parts when said receptacle is again moved in a predetermined manner with respect to said carrier, said means comprising a member pivot-ally connected to one of said parts, a second member carried by the other of said parts adapted for hooked engagement with a single arm of said pivoted member, said arm being moved by said second member through a determined path when being moved into said hooked engagement and being moved through a distinctly different path when said receptacle is thereafter moved in said predetermined manner, and means for positively locking said members against inadvertent movement with respect to each other when in said locked engagement, said hooked engagement of said single arm with said second member being adequate to maintain a locked relationship between said receptacle and carrier when said positive locking means is operative.

4. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a carrier, a track therefor, a receptacle adapted to be supported by said carrier, and means for automatically locking said receptacle to said carrier when the receptacle adapted to be supported by said former is raised substantially into engagement with the latter and for automatically disconnecting said parts when said recep tacle is again moved in a predetermined, manner with respect to said carrier-,asaid'. means comprising a member pivotally connect'edto one of said parts, a second mem-V ber carried by the other of said parts adapted for hooked engagement with an arm of said pivoted member, said arm being moved by said second member througha determined path when being moved into said hooked engagement and being moved through a distinctly different path when said receptacle 1s thereafter moved in 'said, predetermined manner, and means movable into engagement with said pivoted member for preventing inadvertent rotation thereof.

5.-In a store service apparatus, the combinationof a carrier, a track therefor, a receptacle adapted to be supportedrby said carrier, and means for automatically lock-.

ing said receptacle to said carrier when the former is 'aised substantially into engage-- ment with the latter and for automatically disconnecting said parts when said recep-z tacle is again moved in a predetermined bias for movement into its operative posi-v tion for preventing inadvertentrmovement of one of said members from its hookedenv-v gagement with the other of said members.

'6. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a carrier, a track therefor, a

carrier, and means for automatically locking said receptacle to said carrier when the former is raised substantially into engage.

ment with the latter and for automatically disconnecting said parts when said receptacle is again moved in a predetermined manner with respect to said carrier, said means comprising a member pivotally connected to one of said parts, a second member carried by the other of said parts adapted for hooked engagement with an arm of said pivoted member, said arm being moved by said second member through a determined path when being moved into said hooked -engagement and being moved through a distinctly dillerent path when said receptacle is thereafter moved in said predetermined manner, and reciprocably. mounted means havlng a bias for movement 1nto.1ts

M operative position for preventing inadvertent movement of one of said members from its.hooked-engagement with the other of said members I a .71. In a;store;service apparatus, the combination of a carrier, a track therefor, a

receptacle adapted to be supported by said carrier, and means for automatically locking said receptacle to said carrier when the former is raised substantially into engagementiwith the latter and for automatically disconnecting said parts when said receptacle is again moved in a predetermined manner With respectto said carrier, said means comprising two oppositely acting members connected to one of said parts and means carried by the other-of said parts to substantially simultaneouslymove said mem here in substantiallyopposite directions with respect to each other, said last mentioned means beingadapted for, locking engagement with ,said oppositely acting members.

8. In a store service apparatus,the combination of a carrier, a track therefor, a receptacle adapted to be supported by said carrier, and, means for automatically locking said receptacleto saidcarrier when the former is raised substantially into engagementwith the latter and for automatically disconnecting said parts when said receptacle is again moved in apredetermined manner-with respectto said carrier, said means comprising two oppositely acting members connected to one of said parts, movable connections between said members for holding them normally in determined positions,andmeans carried by the other of said parts adapted for locking engagement with said oppositely acting members.

9.,In a store service apparatus, the combination of a carrier, a track therefor, a receptacle adapted to be supported by said carrier,,and means for automatically locking said receptacle to said carrier when the former is raised substantially into engagement with the latter and for automatically disconnecting said parts when said receptacle is again moved in a predetermined manner with respect to said carrier, said means comprising two pivoted members each having a pronounced bias for a determined position, and means adapted for locking engage mentwith said members,said members being movable by said meansin substantially diametrically opposite directions when said locking engagement is being effected.

10. In a store service apparatus, the combination ofa carrier, a track therefor, a receptacle adapted to be supported by said carrier, and means for automatically locking said receptacle to said carrier when the former, is raised substantially into engagement with thelatter and for automatically disconnecting said parts when said receptacle is again moved in a predetermined man- 1 ner with respect to said carrier, said "means comprising two pivoted members each having a pronounced bias for a determined position, and means adapted for locking engagement with said members, said members being movable by said means in opposite directions when said locking engagement is being effected, and each being movable farther in the same directions to a limited extent, at least when said locking engagement is beinginterrupted.

11. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a carrier, a track therefor, a

receptacle adapted to be supported-by said carrier, and oppositely acting, balanced mechanism for automatically locking said receptacle to said carrier when the former is raised substantially into engagement with the latter and for automatically disconnecting said parts when said receptacle is again moved in a predetermined manner with re spect to said carrier, said mechanism comprising two members, and means adapted for locking engagement with one at least of said members, said members being movable in opposite directions by said means when said locking engagement is being effected.

12. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a carrier, a track therefor, a receptacle adapted to be supported by said carrier, and oppositely acting, balanced mechanism for automatically locking said receptacle to said carrier when the former is raised substantially into engagement with the latter and for automatically disconnecting said parts when said receptacle is again moved in a predetermined manner with respect to said carrier, said mechanism com.- prising two pivoted members each having a bias for a determined position, and means adapted for locking engagement with both of said members, said members being movable in opposite directions by said means when said locking engagement is being effected. 7

13. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a carrier, a track upon which said carrier rides, a receptacle, an elevating member for lifting said receptacle toward said carrier and a single element adapted to lock said receptacle to a part of said carrier when in one position and to lock said elevating member to said receptacle when in another position.

14. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a carrier having a sustaining part, a track upon which said carrier rides, a receptacle, an elevating member for lift ing said receptacle toward said carrier, and an element adapted for hooking engagement with said sustaining part of said carrier when moved into engagement with said part andfurther adapted for hooking engagement with a part of said elevating member when out of said engagement.

15. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a carrier having a sustaining part, a track upon which said carrier rides, a receptacle, an elevating member for lifting said receptacle toward said carrier, and a pivoted element adapted for hooking engagement with said sustaining part of said carrier when moved into engagement with said part and further adapted for booking engagement with a part of said elevating member when out of engagement.

16. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a carrier having a sustaining part, a track upon which said carrier rides, a receptacle, an elevating member for lifting said receptacle toward said carrier, and an element having one end thereof adapted for hooking engagement with said sustaining part of said carrier and another end adapted for hooking engagement with a part of said elevating member, said last mentioned end being normally inoperative when said first mentioned end is in its said hooking engagement with said sustaining part.

17. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a carrier, a track upon which said carrier rides, a receptacle, an elevating member for lifting said receptacle toward said carrier, a double hooked element adapted to lock said receptacle to a part of said carrier when in one position and to lock said elevating member to said receptacle when in another position.

18. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a carrier, a track upon which said carrier rides, a receptacle, an elevating member for lii mg said receptacle toward said carrier, a device adapted to lock said receptacle to a part of said carrier when in one position and to lock said elevating member to said receptacle when in another position, and safety means for locking said device against inadvertent displacement from said first position when said elevating member has been lowered.

19. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a carrier provided with a sustaining part, a track upon which said carrier rides, a receptacle, an elevating member for lifting said receptacle toward said carrier, and mechanism for locking together said carrier and receptacle and for unlocking said parts thenafter when desired, said mechanism actuated by the elevation of said receptacle by said elevating member, sub stantially all moving parts or said mechanism being carried by said receptacle and said mechanism further having means for locking said moving parts against inadvertent movement.

20. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a carrier, 21 track, a receptacle adapted to be supported by said carrier, and mechanism for automatically locking said receptacle to said carrier when the former is raised substantially into engagement with the latter, said mechanism comprising a movable part mounted on said receptacle, said receptacle provided with a slotted casing for substantially completely inclosing said movable part and said carrier provided with a sustaining part adapted for hooking engagement with said movable part.

21. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a carrier, a track therefor, a receptacle adapted to be supported by said carrier, an elevating member, and mechanism for automatically locking said recepprovided with a slotted casing for substantially completely inclosing said locking part and said carrier provlded with a sustammg part adapted for hooklng engagement with said locking part, one of said last mentioned parts being provided with means for effecting a disengagement of said parts when said receptacle is raised a second time in manner aforesaid.

22. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a carrier, a track therefor, a receptacle adapted to be supported by said carrier, an elevating member, and mechanism for automatically locking said receptacle to said carrier when the former is raised by said member substantially into engagement with the latter and for automatically disconnecting said receptacle from said carrier when the receptacle is raised a second time by said member said mechanism comprising a pivotally mounted locking part mounted on said receptacle, said carrier provided with a relatively fixed sustaining part adapted for engagement with said locking part whereby to sustain said receptacle therefrom, one of said parts being provided with means for effecting a disengagement of said parts when said receptacle is raised a second time in manner aforesaid, and means for preventing inadvertent disengagement of said parts, said last mentioned means adapted to be inoperatively disposed by said member.

23. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a carrier, a track therefor, a receptacle adapted to be supported by said 7 carrier, an elevating member, and mechanism for automatically locking said receptacle to said carrier when the former is raised by said member substantially into engagement with the latter and for automatically disconnecting said receptacle from said carrier when the receptacle is raised a second time by said member, said mechanism comprising a locking part mounted on said receptacle, said carrier provided with a sustaining part adapted for engagement with said locking part whereby to sustain said receptacle therefrom, one of said parts being provided with means for effecting a disengagement ofsaid parts when said receptacle is raised a second timein manner aforesaid, and means for preventing inadvertent disengagement of said parts, said member having upwardly directed extensions for displacing said means into its in operative position.

24. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a carrier, a track therefor, a receptacle adapted to be supported by said carrier, an elevating member, and mechanism for automatically locking said receptacle to said carrier when the former is raised by said member substantially into engagement with the latter and for automatically disconnecting said receptacle from said carrier when the receptacle is raised a second time by said member, said mechanlsm comprising a locking part mounted on said receptacle, said carrier provided with a sustaining part adapted for engagement with said locking part whereby to sustain saiclreceptacle therefrom, one of said parts bemg provided with means forefl'ecting a dlsengagement of said parts when said receptacle is raised a second time in manner aforesaid, and means for preventing inadvertent disengagement of said parts, said member having upwardly directed extensions for displacing said means into its inoperative position, and said means having a bias for its operative position.

25. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a carrier provided with a socket and a sustaining part therein, a track for said carrier, a receptacle having a supporting frame, said frame including a casing adapted to enter said socket, movably mounted means in said casing adapted for locking engagement with said sustaining part, an elevating member having an up wardly extending projection adapted to enter said casing, and means in said casing for preventing inadvertent disengagement of said movably mounted means and sustaining part when in locked relationship, said projection adapted to engage said disengagement preventing means to render the latter inoperative when said receptacle is an elevating member, and means in said casing for preventing inadventent disgagement of said movably mounted means and sustaining part when in locked relationship, said elevating member having provisions for displacing said disengagement preventing means to render the latter inoperative when said receptacle is sustained by said elevating member.

27. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a carrier provided with a socket and a sustaining part therein, a track for said carrier, a receptacle having a supporting frame, said frame including a casing adapted to enter said socket, movably mounted means in said casing adapted for locking engagement with. said sustaining part, an elevating member, and means in said casing for preventing inadvertent disengagement of said movably mounted means and sustaining part when in locked rela tionship, said elevating member having provisions for displacing said disengagement preventing means to render the latter inoperative when said receptacle is sustained by said elevating member, said movably mounted means having provisions for looking together said elevating member and receptacle when the said parts are out of said locked relationship.

28. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a carrier having a sustain ng part, a receptacle having a supporting frame, substantially horizontally plvoted means mounted on said frame adaptedto suspend said receptacle from said sustaining part, elevating mechanism comprising a lifting member adapted to sustain said receptacle when the latter is not suspended from said sustaining part, said pivoted means, per 80, having provisions for looking said member to said receptacle when tne latter is sustained by said member 1n manner aforesaid.

29. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a carrier having a sustaming part, a receptacle having a supporting frame, means mounted on said frame adapted to suspend said receptacle from said sustaining part, elevating mechanlsm compr sing a lifting member adapted to sustaln said receptacle when the latter 15 not suspended from said sustaining part, said means, per 86, further having provisions for hooking said member fast to said receptacle when the latter is sustained by said memher in manner aforesaid.

30. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a carrier having a sustaining part, a receptacle having a supporting frame, unitary means mounted on said frame adapted to suspend said receptacle from said sustaining part, elevating mechanism comprising a lifting member adapted to sustain said receptacle when the latter is not suspended from said sustaining part, said unitary means further having provisions for hooking said member fast to said "eceptacle when the latter is sustained by said member in manner aforesaid.

31. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a carrier having a sustaining part, a receptacle having a supporting frame, means carried by said frame for engaging said part whereby to suspend said receptacle from said carrier, an elevating member for lifting said receptacle to cause said means and part to be operatively engaged, said member and frame having a pro jecticn and socket connection with each other when said receptacle is supported by said member and said frame and carrier having a similar connection with each other when said receptacle is supported from said sustaining part, the socket part of the frame and member connection constituting the stud element of the frame and carrier connection.

89. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a carrier having sustaining parts, a receptacle having a supporting frame, a plurality of separate means carried by said frame for engaging said parts whereby to suspend said receptacle from said carrier at a plurality of points, an elevating member for lifting said receptacle to cause said separate means and parts to operatively engage said frame and carrier together, said frame having provisions for aiding one of said parts alone to sustain said receptacle in the event of another of said parts failing when in use, and a plurality of means co-acting with the means aforesaid for normally locking together said member and receptacle when said receptacle is supported by said member and said first mentioned. means are inoperative, said memher and frame further having provisions for maintaining said locked relationship between said member and receptacle even if one of said last mentioned plurality of means should fail.

38. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a carrier having a sustaining part, a receptacle having a supporting frame, means carried by said frame for engaging said part whereby to suspend said receptacle from said carrier, elevating member for lifting said receptacle to cause said means and part to eperatively engage, a latch for retaining said carrier against inadvertent displacement, and means co-acting with said latch for purposely displacing said carrier, said last mentioned means including a pulley pivotally mounted on said latch, a follower for projecting said carrier and a propelling cord connected to said follower and passing around said pullev 34-. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a carrier having a sustaining part, a receptacle adapted to be attached to said part and detachable therefrom, a latch for retaining said carrier against inadvertent displacement and means co-acting with said latch for purposely displacing said carrier, said last mentioned means including a pulley pivotally mounted on said latch, a follower for projecting said carrier and a propelling cord connected to said follower and passing around said pulley.

35. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a carrier having sustaining parts, a receptacle having a supporting frame, a plurality of separate, oppositely movable means carried by said frame for engaging said parts whereby to suspend said receptacle from said carrier at a plurality of points, an elevating member, for lifting said receptacle to cause said separate means and parts to operatively engage said frame and carrier together, said frame having provisions for aiding one of said parts alone to sustain said receptacle in the event of another of said parts failing when in use.

36. The combination with a car frame mounted upon an elevated way of a carrying receptacle having a supporting frame, means for raising and lowering the same to and from the car frame, a locking catch member pivotally mounted upon a horizontal axis upon one of said frames, at suspending member upon the other of said frames for engaging said catch member, and means for positively guiding one of said members into locking relation with the other of said members, the pivoted catch member being provided with an inclined cam-surface to cause it to be moved in a given direction by the lifting of one of said members, said catch member having a side cam-groove therein to receive an engaging part of said suspend- I ing member to permit said locking catch member to reverse the direction of its movement toward a normal position, a notch for receiving said part of said suspending member when the one of said members which was lifted is first lowered, and a continuation of said cam-groove, a part at least of which is inclined downwardly, said cam-groove being open at its lower end to permit of the disengagement of said members from each other.

37. The combination with a car frame mounted upon an elevated way of a carrying receptacle having a supporting frame, means catch member having a cam-groove therein to receive an engaging part of said suspending member to permit said locking catch member to reverse the direction of its movement toward a normal position, a notch for receiving said part of said suspending member when the one of said members which was lifted is first lowered, and a continuation of said cam-groove, a part at least of which is inclined, said cam-groove being open to permit of the disengagement of said members from each other.

38. The combination with a car frame mounted upon an elevated way of a carrying receptacle having a supporting frame, means for raising and lowering the same to and from the car frame, a locking catch member pivotally mounted upon one of said frames, a suspending member upon the other of said frames for engaging said catch member and means for positively guiding one of said members into locking relation with the other of said members, the pivoted catch member being provided with an inclined cam-surface to cause it to be moved in a given direction by the lifting of one of said members, said catch member having an opening thereinto receive an engaging part of said suspending member to permit said catch member to reverse the direction of its movement toward a normal position, a notch for receiving a part of said suspending member when the one of said members which was lifted isfirst lowered, and a cam-surface to eflect the disengagement of said members when said raising and lowering means is next actuated.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES P. HIDDEN.

Witnesses:

CHARLES LAURIN, ETHEL NI. JO DAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. i 

